37 Take Part In Owen County State Bank’s Choice Travel Trip To The Smoky Mountains

Loretta Johnson and Carol Miller were caught by the camera during their recent visit to the Smoky Mountains with OCSB’s Choice Traveling Group. (Courtesy Photo)
The Choice Traveling Group from Owen County State Bank experienced a vast array of fall colors during their recent trip to the Smoky Mountains at the end of October. The group of 37, mostly from Owen and Morgan counties, departed on Monday the 26th of October for Sevierville, Tennessee for the next four nights. The group enjoyed lots of tasty food at every turn including many samples of homemade candies and fudge as well as homemade donuts from the Donut Friar in Gatlinburg.

When the group wasn’t busy eating, visiting gift shops, and enjoying the colorful sights of fall, they were being entertained by various musical and comedy shows. Their first show was the Patty Waszak Show at the Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge. The talented Ms. Wazsak dazzled the group with a variety show where she commenced playing 30 different instruments. At various intervals her sidekick, Mr. Kenny Evans, brilliantly sang old songs such as “Pretty Woman” and “Sherry, Sherry Baby” as well as some gospel favorites. The group learned that Kenny Evans previously opened for such famous acts as Kenny Chesney, Charlie Daniels, Lonestar, Sara Evans, Toby Keith and Tracy Byrd. He was on his way to a professional country music career when his life took a wrong turn and he began abusing drugs and alcohol. After recovering from a serious accident, Mr. Evans gave his life to the Lord and accepted a call to preach. He has had the privilege of serving as a youth and associate pastor of several churches, and enjoys traveling the country singing and preaching as a full-time evangelist as well as performing and sharing testimony during Patty Waszak’s show. The group was enamored with Mr. Evans, and several spoke with him during intermission to schedule a visit to their home churches.

B ill and Darlene Franklin pose for a photo during a visit to the Smoky Mountains with OCSB’s Choice Traveling Group. (Courtesy Photo) Sonny and Arlene Ooley are pictured above with two members of The Temptations, a Motown favorite recognized for their silky choreography, distinct harmonies, and sharp dress and style. (Courtesy Photo)
In the evening the group enjoyed a Temptations sensation! A group recognized for their silky choreography, distinct harmonies, and sharp dress and style, The Temptations shared some timeless tunes including hits like, “Get Ready,” “Just My Imagination,” “Can’t Get Next to You,” “My Girl,” “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch,” “I Wish it Would Rain,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” Mr. Nate Evans, the only original Temptation remaining, gave a history of Motown and the Temptations themselves. After the show, the awesome five came to the lobby and gave autographs and had photos taken with many in our traveling group.

The next morning the group met up with local guide, Carey Jones, a former park ranger, to have a guided tour of the most visited national park in America, the Smoky Mountains National Park. Mr. Jones explained that during a period in the U.S. when industry and business were booming, trees and landscapes were being cleared at an alarming rate. Several local residents and other groups raised money to preserve the land and eventually the area became a national park in 1923. How did the Great Smoky Mountains National Park get its name? The Smokies are named for the blue mist that always seems to hover around the peaks and valleys. The Cherokee called them shaconage, (shah-con-ah-jey) or “place of the blue smoke”. As the group enjoyed learning about the Smokies and letting the visuals take root in them, they accompanied Mr. Jones in singing, “On Top of Old Smoky” and “God Bless America.”

In the afternoon, the group was given time on their own to enjoy downtown Gatlinburg with its vast array of local shopping and tasty treats. In addition, time was spent at the historic Old Mill Square and the Applewood Farm- house.

Other variety shows enjoyed by the group were the Black Bear Jamboree, the Comedy Barn, the Blackwoods, and the Smith Family. Some members of the group were made celebrities by their participation. Leonard Tucker quacked like a duck, and Laura Tucker and Chris Stahl squawked like chickens during the Patty Waszak Show. Bill Franklin showed off his talents with a hula hoop during the Smith Family Show. The bus driver, Big Al Rodriguez, demonstrated one morning at breakfast the wrong way to heat a boiled egg in the microwave when the egg exploded with a boom, remnants flying everywhere. A couple from the group purchased a shirt for him from the Comedy Barn with a picture of a chicken on a cracked egg that read, “I’m all cracked up!”

To join the group on their next adventure to Asheville, North Carolina and the Biltmore Mansion, December 6-9, or to Scotland from May 14-22, contact Michelle DeFord at the Owen County State Bank at 812-829-4811, ext. 254.